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Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Brighten and lighten (family room!)

Helloooo there! I am so excited to show you some changes I made to the family room over the weekend. It was a great weekend – we were home almost the whole time and I had a bunch of time to just piddle around with projects. It was bliss!! I got SO MUCH done -- what a great feeling.

Anyway, I tackled a project in the family room that eventually turned into an additional three, four…five?? projects. The first couple I’ll share today. ;)

I shared how years ago I had finally given in and put a mirror over our mantel. I had kind of fought that for years (a decorating friend warned me against it) and I really did love having the reflection up there…for the most part.

It was nice and big and took up a lot of visual space, for cheap (I made the mirror). It was oh so easy to decorate…just stick a wreath on it and you’re good:

But for a while it had been bugging me – the black frame was so dark. I could have just painted it, but the big mirror was also a problem. It almost made the mantel look cluttered because it was always reflecting so much STUFF. The ceiling fan, the ceiling, the doors, stuff in the kitchen.

So months ago I picked up a mirror at HomeGoods that I loved – I bought it specifically for this spot, but it sat. And sat. Sat in the mud room, all lonely like. I don’t know why, I guess the thought of hanging a mirror overwhelms me?

Well, this weekend I got over it and kind of rigged it up there to see how it looked. I was IN LOVE people!! I don’t change things out often up there because of the wood planked wall I installed – I had to put new holes through the wood and putty up the old ones. But it was worth it:

You can still see the holes from the big mirror (they were in studs cause that thing is a beast), but only if you look reeeeeal hard. I’m not going to stress about it.

I shopped the house to accessorize the mantel – I don’t switch the decor often, usually just for the holidays. When I find something I like, it stays for eons. And this I like:

The orchid is real, and that’s for another post. I’m trying desperately to keep it alive! The candlesticks I’ve had forever – they originated on the Christmas centerpiece years ago. I’m in love with the copper and metallic colors I spray painted them.

I LOVE luff lurve this small change over the fireplace. It is SO much brighter and welcoming. UGH. Love:

The mirror has a gold finish on it with some speckles of black. My plan at first was to paint it – I wasn’t sure to what, but when I got it up there I knew I wasn’t touching it.

I don’t have to spray paint EVERYTHING:

The thing was, you know how one change turns into 35 others? Well around here it does. When we had the former corner fireplace built out, it left an odd wall to the left that has been a pain in my patoot to decorate.

But when I put the new mirror up it just felt so heavy and dark and too much. I was like, seriously??? I am so dang tired of messing with that wall. But I found a solution. I took my (free!) framed prints from another small wall in the family room and tried moving them over. At first I thought they’d be too small, but they looked just lovely!

I considered spray painting their black frames gold to carry it over, but I thought that would be too goldy. Then I remembered Courtney’s brill idea and got to work:

I grabbed my Frogtape (I used the delicate yellow kind, just because it’s what I had closest) and totally just eyeballed the corners. I taped them off and then schmeared on my gold Rub n Buff. No measurements, no time at all – I was done with both frames in about five minutes:

Absolutely LOVE them!

The “campaign” look bring in a touch of the gold from the mirror over the mantel, and I think I’ve finally found a winner for this spot:

Simple and pretty. And…done. Pinch me if I change that wall again, OK? (By the way, the PB wood art moved to the wall these came from. Just a switcheroo.)

That chair is so high it looks like the frames should move up a little, but then the top one would be over the door frame next to it and that looked weird. This feels cozy to me:

All weekend long, when I walked in this room, I smiled because it is so much brighter and the pretty mantel is finally looking how I envisioned it from the start.

I sit on the sofa and stare:

OK, I don’t really yes I do.

I changed up the accessories in my DIY tray a little too – my little terrarium with the moss is actually the glass from an 80’s light:

Some of you suggested adding a little finial to the top and I loved that idea! I love giving older pieces a new life!!

There’s a couple other big changes that happened/are happening in there too – you long time readers may be able to find them:

Any ideas?? One is done, one is taking forever to finish. And the walls are going to be painted soon…when I can get amped up to do it. The molding will change a little too so I’m putting that project off.

Let’s take a look at how this spot has changed over time, shall we? First, with our annoying corner fireplace that I picked out on purpose years ago:

Then we had the wall built out, a new surround done and I tiled around the fireplace:

I added the planked wall and it helped to lighten things up even more:

But it was hidden behind that mirror!!

Now it finally shines!:

Total cost was $50 for the mirror at HomeGoods, but I bought it three months ago. So I’m not sure if that counts now. ;) Otherwise I used what I had.

I’ll share the other projects soon! For now, I’m putting a hot pad on my neck and resting for a bit. (HINT HINT.)

I just love the new lighter, brighter look of the whole room, Sarah! What a difference just a few (well, several) changes make. I know what you mean about changing one thing, then another, then... Hubby came home one day and wanted to know what happened to his favorite curtains in the dining room. I said they don't go with anything in here anymore. He's still sad about them, so I'm trying to figure out where I can change something to incorporate them again.

It looks beautiful! It has always been beautiful but now it looks so bright and clean. And can I just say? I cannot believe GOLD is back in style! Maybe I'll get brave enough to do some gold in my house.

I love how much lighter and brighter things are!! I just painted a black mirror that we had over our mantle white, and it made a HUGE difference in the appearance of things. I'm obsessed, and it's really more "us" than the black. Plus, it looks gorgeous with our wintery decorations. :)

Such little changes actually changes the whole room! I love everything you did here. The mirror change was the biggest and bestest in my opinion. It makes the wall behind it finally shine!The corner thing that you did with the black frames is genius. A little of gold does so much!And I like it that you just sit and stare at stuff in the room.... I do that too!

LOVE the new mirror and I have a question. Is it ok for your wood floors to go right up to your fireplace? I love the look of that and we have the ugliest tiles surrounding our fireplace that I want to change out. I wasn't sure if it was ok to do that though, it looks like we have the same fireplace, a gas/fake one so I was thinking it might be ok.

You painted the ceiling! And maybe also the coffee table? I ADORE the gold on the mantle.. and I am going to do the gold-corner-of-the-frame thing too! (do you call that something?) love it all - looking all light n' bright!

I love love love it!! I wanted a fun mirror like that, but couldn't find anything. We have a space above our entryway table that was BEGGING for something, so I bought a $30 mirror from Ross and called it good. I figure I'll keep on looking for another fun mirror, but at least that space has something in it now.

Just beautiful, Sarah! And when I think your house can't get any prettier, you change it up again. Love it! Did you get a new light fixture? I don't remember that cool looking one. There used to be a drum shade there, right? Hmm...

Painted ceiling and new chandelier? I absolutely love how bright the room is now...like a breath of spring air just blew through. I've loved all the progressions, but this one is the best! Will use the gilded corners on picture frames idea to break up the black frames on my gallery wall...when I do it!

Wow! I love seeing the transition over the years. The new mirror is awesome there and brightens the whole corner up so much. Such an overall transformation. And love the idea for just adding gold to the corners of the frames! Can't wait to see what you've been working on...

Girl ... Floor to cieling looks just fabulous !!!! love it all . Love the mirror you put above the mantel too . I loved the S (SHERRY) is my name so I loved that too .. Looks good. I even loved your fall decor...loved the pic of Captn Jack especially LOL .. LOVE it all ... Sherry @ The Rusty Pearl

It's GORGEOUS!!! So much lighter. The goldtone is very nice against the white and what a great idea to jazz up the corners of those other frames! Don't you love it when it all comes together so nicely!

Just love the new(and almost free)and light and airy look you gave your room. It is amazing how a few changes can not only brighten up a space but make us feel better, except for your neck,at the same time. Great job!

Amazing how a few tiny changes can alter the whole look of a space. Really love what you've done - the mirror is awesome and I adore that little terrarium! It reminds me that I absolutely must create one myself :)

Your hint made me think you painted the ceiling, and the photos seem to indicate that as well. Looks like you went from tan to white. All that going lighter at the fireplace seems to have spread to the ceiling. :) Redo's have a way of causing that. Ahhh! Spring is coming.Chrissy

Love, Love, LOVE! The new mirror is so gorgeous and it definitely gives the room a lighter look -- especially with that paneling shining through now. And what a great idea to paint the corners of the frames gold -- your mirror and artwork are having a conversation now! Get some rest!

I love this mirror. I have a black lantern but now am thinking I may want to paint it copper or metallic. I can easily see how one project leads to another, to another. Oh well, isn't that part of the fun?!

I do love this new mirror...it does show off the planks behind it. I never noticed them with the big black mirror...just noticed the big black mirror and wreath. I did like the Pottery Barn art picture you made though. I will miss it hanging over the chair. You should use it as a giveaway sometime. And make sure I win! :)

Sarah, the fireplace looks great! I like that you choose to tile around it. In my opinion, tiles add style to a home, brings the impact you want even if they’re around a fireplace, a kitchen backsplash or a tabletop. Whenever my clients ask me about DIY home projects and crafts, I suggest to be creative and innovative because they can do more with less. Your blog is a great way to get inspired. Congrats!

I love everything about it! And I'm totally taking the gold edged frame idea and making it a reality around my house :) I've been falling more in love with gold lately - as a matter of fact, I'm decorating my baby's nursery in a gold/natural theme.

I *love* that mirror. I, once upon a time, tried to start a small mirror collection. I got up to 3, then 2 of them went away in a yard sale. I adore the one I have left but yours is so grand.

I may have to try your picture frame trick. I got lucky at the salvation army store & found two 8x10 frames (for some autographed photos) & a beautiful wood trimmed collage frame. But the wood 8x10 frames look so cheap next to it. Tho I do still have metallic silver paint left from the cheap wood frame i painted. (it looks awesome against the dark blues/blacks/greys/purples of the painting inside).

Love it all!! I just painted above my mantle white and I'm adding moldings on either side to finish it so it appears the molding goes from the mantle up to the crown molding. Made the room so much brighter. I'm searching for the perfect mirror! Your room is gorgeous~you're so talented!!

Sarah, I love you and I mean this with every bit of love. I have watched from the beginning and I'm saying, bingo, I love this spot, it's perfect! I like the openness of the items you used, there was alot going on before. Great job!